How Do You Transfer College Credits?

I accumulated a lot of credits at my current school and I'm worried they won't transfer. What's the best process for transferring college credits to another school?

Transferring college credits is indeed a crucial step in your transition, and here are some steps you can follow to make the process smoother:

1. Understand Transfer Policies: Start your college credit transfer process by understanding the transfer policies of the school you plan to attend. Each university has its own set of policies regarding transfer credits. These guidelines are often available on the university's official website in a section dedicated to transfer students.

2. Request an Unofficial Transcript: To help you in your discussions with your intended institution, request an unofficial transcript from your current school's registrar's office. This will show all completed courses and the credits you have earned.

3. Contact Registrar's Office at The New School: Reach out to the Registrar or Admissions offices at the school you plan to attend. They can provide guidance based on their specific credit transfer policies and can sometimes tell you how credits for certain courses might be transferred.

4. Use School’s Transfer Equivalency Database: Some universities have an online database where you can see how credits from many courses will transfer. You can search for your current institution and see if any of your courses have established equivalencies.

5. Be Prepared For Course-by-Course Evaluation: In many cases, colleges will evaluate the completed coursework on a course-by-course basis. This is where course descriptions or syllabi from your past classes can be useful, as they give more detailed information about what you studied. This could improve your chances of earning more transfer credit.

6. Petition for Re-evaluation: If a course you think should be credited isn’t, you may be able to petition for a re-evaluation of that course. This means the admissions staff will take another look at your course and compare it with their offerings.

7. Confirm Transfer: After your new school has received and evaluated your transcript, ensure that your credits have been transferred correctly. If there are any discrepancies, don't hesitate to contact the relevant office immediately.

Remember, it's always important to start this process early, as translating credits between institutions can take time. Good luck with your transition!